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By David Shearman

This may seem unlikely subject for members of DEA who work to assist and  maintain human health in an age of climate change, but I assure you that it is relevant.

In 1989 the Exxon Valdez, a super-tanker, struck a reef and spilled 11 million gallons of crude oil into the Prince William Sound in Alaska. A few days ago, after nearly 20 years in the Courts, the US Supreme Court reduced by 90% what had once been a $5 billion punitive damages award against Exxon Mobil to $500 million. This was the second legal appeal by Exxon, the first had reduced the damages to $2.5 billion.

From material compiled by David Shearman

For some time now, together with colleagues, I have been analysing why liberal democracy does not have the capacity to tackle climate change. There are several possible reasons for this. Some may be found in the democratic electoral need to satisfy the maximum number of voters on most possible occasions, and in the  fusion of liberal democracy with market needs. These issues are explained in recent texts listed below (1,2) Complexity theory explains the impotence of democracy in making major decisions and this applies both to elected representatives who cannot grasp complex problems and to the bureaucracies of governments which fail to deliver. (3)

So Ross Garnaut thinks humanity will probably lose the fight against climate change. The architect of Australia's response to climate change says the issue is "too hard" and there is "just a chance" the world will face up to the problem before it's too late. I think this is the likely conclusion for all who spend time on the scientific literature. I believe that our response to this situation must be to redouble our efforts to urge decision makers to take more action. Martin Williams, a DEA member is doing this and relates his experience below. I suspect that we have at least one DEA member in every constituency in Australia and each member of DEA has access to 12 Senators who represent his/her state. We have an opportunity that no other section of the community has for the reasons detailed by Martin. If you require help from us in formulating your informtion, please contact me. Let us get on with it! --- Editor.

I will soon be in Zurich. I have friends there with whom I have been discussing the cost of petrol furore here and in the UK. There is no such debate in Zurich for they have an efficient public transport system which reduces use of the private car to a minimum. Australian cities are four decades behind in such developments with the possible exception of Perth. In terms of the future health and wellbeing of humanity, the rise in the price of oil is good news and it should not be beyond the capabilities of government to offer relief to those who cannot pay. On your behalf we will be pursuing the urgent need for more public transport as an important health measure over the coming months. There will be a new poster and submissions will be made to governments.

We thank the Independent.co.uk and the author,  Steve Connor, Science Editor, for permission to publish this article which appeared in the Independent newspaper on Monday, 26 May 2008. We publish this article because it illustrates the potential fast moving spread of infectious diseases in reponse to climate change and the consequental movement of vectors. (Editor)

Mosquito invasion brings disease risk to UK by Steve Connor

An Asian mosquito species is poised to arrive in Britain, bringing with it the risk of a potentially lethal disease that the insect can pass from one person to another.

by Tony McMichael
The Australian National University
Observer at 2008 World Health Assembly, for the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology

The 61st World Health Assembly, held in Geneva during this past week and attended by national delegations from 193 Member States, has underscored the urgency of tackling global climate change and its diverse risks to health around the world. Those risks will press particularly on vulnerable regions and poorly-resourced populations.
 
On Saturday May 24, the Assembly passed unanimously a strongly worded resolution, seeking to engage the health sector, at international and national levels, in responding to climate change. A key component of this task is to alert policy-makers and populations to the fundamental nature of the risks posed by climate change, not just by dint of physical hazards, but also by affecting many biological and ecological processes upon which human health depends.

This symposium was held at the Staff Club, University of Western Australia, Thursday 15 May 2008.

Report by Bill Castleden,

The WA State Committee of DEA organized this Symposium in the expectations that many members and others in the medical profession might be confused about the topic because of the polarization of the issue, or simply not conversant with the main issues and the potential health impacts. We advertised with the question “What would you advise a member of your family or a patient if they asked for your opinion about genetically-modified crops or foods?” We invited members of DEA to register their partners or spouses as well if they were interested in the topic, and provided excellent finger food and wine before and after the Symposium itself, all for a registration fee of $55 per head.